History Chosing a Traditional Path - Banjo or QC?

Building my '31 Model A Tudor (B4Cdan, if you care to look) as a wartime-era build, imagining a 17-year old acquires a sedan in need of TLC. He is able to source a 1937 sedan with a 85-hp flathead and associated components from a neighbor's wrecked sedan down the road.



I know he would not be able to afford a spankin' new QC, even if they were available.

Just asking, would it be waaaaaaay out of period to use the QC? Should I rebuild the V8 banjo to factory specs?

I do have the V8 rear AND I was fortunate enough to lay my hands on a Culver City center/cover (needing everything else). All things considered, which way would you go?

 

For the time period you are aiming for, use the banjo. Back then, quickies were strictly a race car item and not usually used on the street unless it was a dual purpose car.

 

If you are looking at a teenager in the 40’s building this hot rod, I don’t think he would be able to afford a quick change.

 

But your not a teenager in the 40's Brett do what deep down in your heart you want to do, life is short, get that hot rod up and running! HRP

 

Not to poo poo on your build. But you wouldn't have legally been allowed to run a sedan or coupe till 1948 when the Russetta Timing Association was formed...and if I remember correctly 1951 for the SCTA.

I have a big chip on my shoulder concerning the "over ginger breading" of traditional hot rods. It's very popular to bolt every conceivable "cool" part on these modern recreations we all love so much. Or even re-interpreting what was "traditional" to fit what you want to build.

In doing so, many people miss the mark with these cars. It's my belief that less is more when you try and recreate these cars with authenticity.

I get that everyone wants "all the cool stuff" on their builds. And we're many decades past the era that we're trying to emulate. But if you really study the pictures. Especially the cars in the background. You'll find that most of the hot rods of the time are pretty simple. The cars with "all the goodies" are few and far between.

So the real question is, "what do you want to build?" If its something super authentic, you may want to reconsider the quick change. If you're just building a cool old car and don't care if it's super exact, I say put a quick change in it. It will be a cool car either way.

 

Well, if I had a quick change, it would be in the car. Just suppose that it was a gift from an Uncle who had a race car.

 

I don't try and pigeon hole my builds and I am one that believes less is more, 95 percent of the time.

I like a heavy rake, I doubt that it's very traditional but I like the style, I guess I'm guilty of taking different cues from different eras and blending them into what I like.

I suppose my old Black 32 Mordor was as close to traditional as anything I have ever owned, with the original body, the flathead, the 3 speed tranny, the bent spoke Kelsey's and bias tires, but I like to blend different eras together, I do however quit with the 60's styles. HRP

 

That’s a solid looking Sedan! I’d build it exactly as YOU wish. 100% period correct is cool but who’s keeping score?
Edit: except putting a 32 grille on it, way overdone IMO.

 

There's a good chance that the car would have had the Model A rearend in it, they will take a stock flathead with no problems. You will probably shear the axle key rather than breaking the rearend. My avatar ran a flathead and my 30 Sport Coupe has an H&H 8BA bored 60 over, 3/4 cam, Offenhauser heads and two Holley 94's with no problems.
The torque tube is too long on the 37 rearend and it's 2 1/2" wider which might make a difference if you're running fenders. 39 - 48 brakes fit the Model A housing with a notch in the backing plates, 39-48 wheel bearings fit and diameter and taper on the axle is the same.
Most important thing is to build it how it makes you happy, don't build it the way somebody else thinks is right. My 30 is period correct on the driveline , newest part is 56 F1 steering box but the stance is lower than it would have been in the 40's -50's.

 

Growing up in the sixties in south Louisiana, you could hot rod whatever you could afford. Most of us couldn’t afford much, so we drove whatever we had. Most model A’s, you saw were original and daily drivers. Only a couple of hot rods around, one of them a guy a little older than me, built a coupe with a sbc.

 

A banjo rear would be more likely how that doesn't mean that 17 year old could have found a used 6-spline (V8 in hot rod terms) form an oval tracker.

The 10 spline or Champ rear was preferred under stock cars because of their durability on rough tracks.

6 Spline under the Kerzon "Moose" Carye 34 Ford owned bt Jeff Ackerman....


....which was often repalced with the 10 spline (full size) Halibrand or Frankland

My 10 spline Halibrand

 

If you want versatility, go with a Mitchell.
Just don't tell anyone.

 

Your building a period correct car and both rears were available butt there wasn't to many 17 year olds that could afford a quick change. In my opinion both are fine but the quick change has the coolness factor good luck.

 

I am of the opinion that a '32 grille is not over done if it's on a 1932 Ford.which is what it is. HRP